— by Minor Lile, Orcas Issues reporter —
Welcome to March. This is the third in our Village Voices series, in which we take the pulse of the people of Orcas Island. Every month we’ll be out and about asking people to share their point of view. Sometimes the questions will be serious, sometimes more light-hearted. We invite you to join in the conversation by sharing your response to the question in the comments area.
Asked outside the Orcas Food Co-op on February 29, 2020
How are you feeling about the coronavirus situation?
(comments have been lightly edited for clarity)
Dirk: It makes me nervous and certainly has my attention. We’re discussing whether to go on a trip to Croatia that we have planned for later this Spring.
Brooke: I’m not terribly worried. I am interested in the news about it, but not overly alarmed. I tend not to be an alarmist.
Ben: It’s one of those news stories that is peripheral for awhile then you are no longer able to ignore it.
Lena: I’m feeling okay. I’m a little bit upset about how the administration is handling it, trying to make out it’s not a big deal while the stock market crashes. I’m planning to take San Juan County’s advice and stock up for two weeks.
John: I’m just watching it. Paying attention but not depressed or anything. Mostly trying to separate truth from fiction.
How are YOU feeling about the coronavirus situation? Have you taken any precautions?
Please add your thoughts in the comments area.
And if you want more information, please follow these links to official statements and advisory letters issued by the Governor’s office, San Juan County, and the Orcas Island school district.
I am quite concerned. Globally, the effects could be similar to the 1918 pandemic flu.
The Trump administration has hollowed out the capacity necessary to respond quickly and effectively to an emergency of this scale. I am taking hand washing very seriously and ramping up my supply of non-perishable foods.
I am very concerned as I have been fighting pneumonia, and am afraid my lungs are not in any condition to fight covid-19. I am trying my best to shake off the phnemonia, am resting a lot, washing my hands and taking it easy. I certainly don’t trust our current government to handle this well because of the position of our president. He always seems to thinks everything is about him!
I’m with you Elizabeth.
IMHO in an epidemic, even the seasonal flu, there are two factors that interact to determine outcomes: the biological determinants of the bug and the psychological/behavioral response of the community.
Allowing political actors to talk over public health professionals is morally culpable, as we are finding, even on Orcas… We have a hereditary biological immune system and we have a socio-cultural “immune system.” Both must be functioning effectively. The virus is amoral, our “leaders” are FULLY ACCOUNTABLE.
Power does not mitigate ignorance, but the reverse.
*Our vulnerable are all our responsibility,*
“It’s not about you.” [or your own personal theory of public health and disease]
The 1918 pandemic was more transmissible and over ten times more deadly, and came at the end of WWI when troop and civilian movement and social upheaval maximized its effect. The science of infection and immunity were in their infancy. To arouse this fear ..
well, do you think this is a helpful use of social media?
The sky is not falling.
We are finding that this bug has spread far more widely than we knew.. because it is far less serious than we suspected. And our science is far ahead of where it was even a year ago.
“Is my end a minute away? An hour? Is there even time to ask the question?”
– Leonard Bernstein, “Kaddish”
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/03/were-not-facing-second-spanish-flu/607354/ With all due respect to our fearful neighbors and colleagues, The Atlantic argues convincingly that COVid-19 is not a replay of the 1918 Spanish flu.
That Atlantic column is great.. and the linked articles are also a good in-depth read. I liked You’re_Likely_to_Get_the_Coronavirus:
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/02/covid-vaccine/607000/
And the accompanying vid about the human cost of scientific ignorance & abuse of the bully pulpit:
https://youtu.be/BRKSGMZ93IY
A lesson.